antacids and alcohol

I take OTC zantac from time to time when my acid reflux acts up and was wondering is it safe to drink having antacids in your system. It was probably just my own negligence but about 6 months ago I went out drinking with my friends and had a rough time. My drink of choice was southern comfort and I usually handle my alcohol in stride. That night however the alcohol hit me really fast which got me thinking maybe taking antacids somehow sped of the absortion of the alcohol making my normal pace difficult to follow. The acids that were normally present in my stomach may have been less abundant leaving my liver to fend for itself. Could it just be my imagination?

One of the first things that they tell you in treating acid reflux is no alcohol and no fatty or spicy foods. I do not know about the alcohol absorption being increased by anti-acids.. I do know tha acid properties of alcholols can act as a stomach buffer acid and thus strength the concentration of your stomach acid.

The alcohol has never been a problem for me.. I am allergic to beer and don't have enough of the enzyme necessary to process it. It is looking like I passed that on to my child.. it is one allergy, I am proud of.. however some cough suppresants are rough. A child's dose of nyquil and wheee! I fly like a kite.

MG

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If we learn by our mistakes, I am working on one hell of an education.

laughingman, No its not your imagination. Zantac and Ranitidine can interfere with the metabolism of alcohol. Studies have have shown they elevated blood alcohol levels. If your going out on the town you might want to try
Pepcid (famotidine), Testing has shown it had little effect on blood alcohol levels.

Well I thought they were all H2-receptor antagonists which are chemically similar but it's worth a try. Where did you read your information cause id like to check it out?

yeah mkgbrook, I can see where you are coming from but for it's more the liquor that has an negative effect on my reflux. Beer usually doesn't give me too much liquor and red wine gives me hives or makes me throw up. If you are allergic to the gluten in beer then wine, gin, or vodka should be safe for you. They make gluten free beer but I can't find it anywhere and I hear it can be expensive.

laughingman most of the information on zantac and alcohol I've seen was authored by Jeanie Davis. If you searched using those terms you should find a number of articles. Sorry as I understand it we are not allowed to post links. After rereading the information on Pepcid (famotidine) I noticed that it was only tested with small amounts of alcohol and zantac was also tested and found to have no effects with the same intake of alcohol. So you are probably correct in assuming that all the H2 blockers would have a simular effect on alcohol blood levels.

laughingman, No its not your imagination. Zantac and Ranitidine can interfere with the metabolism of alcohol. Studies have have shown they elevated blood alcohol levels. If your going out on the town you might want to try
Pepcid (famotidine), Testing has shown it had little effect on blood alcohol levels.